Elastically deformable container



Feb. 9, 1965 H. KRAKOWSKY ELASTICALLY DEFORMABLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 Feb. 9, 1965 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 H. KRA KOWSKY ELASTICALLY DEF'ORMABLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

#44: KAJAOA/JK) United States Patent 3,168,968 ELASTICALLY DEFGRMABLE CGNTAILNER Hans Krakowsky, Hamburg, Germany, assignor to Hans Schwarzkopf, Hamhurg-Altona, Germany Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 325,525 Claims priority, application Germany, Jan. 11, N63, Sch 32,892 13 (Tlaims. (Cl. 222-212) The present invention relates to containers in general, and more particularly to an improved elastically deformable container for liquid or liquified cosmetic preparations -'and similar substances.

It is an important object of my invention to provide a very simple, inexpensive and easy-to-handle container which may be readily refilled by means of conventional filling apparatus, which can be refilled as often as desired,

a venting tube and wherein the venting tube is mounted in such a way that its discharge end is automatically sealed from the atmosphere when the container is used to discharge one or more jets of entrapped liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elastically deformable container wherein the discharge end of the venting tube will automaticallycornmunicate with the atmosphere when the container is being refilled with a liquid substance so that the filling apparatus may introduce accurately measured quantities of liquid into the internal chamber of the container without causing any compression of air which fills the empty chamber.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a novel attachment for an elastically deformable container and to construct the attachment in such a way that the venting tube and the nozzle through which the liquid may be discharged form a unitary structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the just outlined characteristics which may be readily detached from the remainder of the container so that it may be cleaned, inspected or replaced with little less in time.

With the above objects'in view, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a refillable container for phragm adjacentto the top portion of the receptacle and accommodated in the cap. The diaphragm comprises a nozzle which extends outwardly through the end wall of the cap andthe diaphragm is formed with two openings the first of which allows the liquid to flow from the chamher into the nozzle or vice versa and the second of which serves to provide a passage between the chamber and an annular compartrnentdefined by the diaphragm and the end wall of the cap. The diaphragm is mounted in such a way that it normally seals the compartment from the venting hole but is deformable in response to pressure exerted against the nozzle in a direction toward the chamber so that the venting hole then forms a passage through which the compartment may communicate with the atmosphere. I i 1 3,168,963 Patented ch. 9, 1965 ice A venting tube is connected to the diaphragm to communicate with the second opening, and this venting tube extends inwardly and close to the bottom of the receptacle to permit escape of air from the chamber through the compartment when the container is being refilled with liquid which is introduced through the nozzle and through the first opening of the diaphragm while the diaphragm is deformed to permit flow of air from the compartment to the atmosphere.

Controlled quantities of liquid may be discharged through the nozzle when the bottle is squeezed and while the diaphragm automatically seals the compartment from the atmosphere.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improvedcontainer itself, however, both as to its construction and the method of manipulating the same, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a central vertical section through a container which embodies one form of my invention and which is illustrated in empty condition;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the container in similar central section during filling when the nozzle of a washerlike diaphragm is connected to the conduit of a filling apparatus; FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of the container in a similar central section with the diaphragm shown in a position it assumes when the receptacle of the container is deformed by squeezing to discharge a jet of liquid through the orifice of the nozzle; i

F IG. 4 is a fragmentary central vertical section through a portion of a slightly modified container wherein the diaphragm comprises a bellows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary central vertical section through a third container wherein the end portion of the closure is provided with a plurality of holes and wherein the nozzle is of cylindrical shape; and

FIG. 6' is a fragmentary central section through a fourth container wherein the nozzle is formed with an annular sealing shoulder.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a refillable container for liquid or liquefied cosmetic preparations and the like. The container comprises a receptacle in the form of a squeeze bottle 10 which defines an internal chamber 10b arranged to receive a supply of liquid and which consists of elastically deformable synthetic plastic material. The receptacle 10 comprises an open-ended top portion 10a of hollow cylindrical shape which is provided with external threads to mate with an internally threaded closure in the form of a cap 11. This cap comprises a conical end wall 11:: extending across the open end of the top portion 10a and provided with a conical venting hole 1112 which diverges in a direction toward the chamber ltlb. The tubular portion of the cap 1.1 defines an annular shoulder 114' which overlies the end face of the top portion 10a so that it may clamp the marginal portion of an elastically deformable annular Washer-like sealing diaphragm 12. Inother words, when the cap 11 is screwed onto the top portion 10a, the marginal portion of the diaphragm 12 is automaticallyclamped in requisite sealing position to prevent entry or escape of fluid along the threads. p i

The diaphragm 12 normally tends to assume a sealing position in which an outlet, here shown as a conical nozzle 13, fills the venting hole 11b so that no air will penetrate into an annular compartment 15 which is defined by the conical end wall 11a and the outer side of the diaphragm. The entire-nozzle 13 need not be of conical outline, i.e., it suffices if the nozzle comprises a conical por- .the nozzle shown, or a similar filling apparatus.

' sneaoes "D O tion whose conicity is complementary to theconicity of the surface surrounding the venting hole 111; and which normally fills the venting hole to prevent communication of air or another'fluid between the compartment 15 and the surrounding atmosphere. The nozzle 13 has av tip 13a which is provided with an axially extending orifice 13b serving as a passage for introduction or evacuation of a liquid from the chamber ltlb. It goes without saying that the nozzle 13 may be provided with two or more 14 whose lower end portion extends close to the bottom wall 100 of the bottle 10. I

The opening 12b forms a passage from the chamber 1% to the compartment 15, and the opening 12a forms a passage from the chamber b to the orifice 1312. It will be noted that the nozzle 13 forms an integral part of the diaphragm 12, but it is equally possible to connect with the diaphragm by a suitable adhesive or the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates the container of my invention in a position it assumes when the chamber 1% receives a supply of a liquid medium 17. The tip 13a of the nozzle 13 is sealingly inserted into the discharge end of a filling conduit 16 which is connected to a plunger pump, not When the plunger of the pump moves upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2, it expels liquid through the conduit 16 and into the orifice 13b so that the liquid enters and fills the chamber 10b by passing through the opening 12a. At the same time, the bottle 10 is pressed axially by hand or in another suitable way in a direction toward the conduit 16 so that the nozzle 13 is depressed toward the chamber 10b and the diaphragm 12 is deformed. The nozzle 13 moves its conical portion away from the wall surrounding the conical venting hole 11b. Consequently, an annular gap 18 is formed between the conical end wall 11a and the nozzle 13 so that air entrapped 'in the chamber 10b may escape via venting tube 14 and'compartment 15. As soon as the axial pressure on the bottle 10 is relaxed, the diaphragm 12 automatically returns to the sealing position of FIG. 1 and its nozzle 13 closes the gap 18 to prevent further communication between the compartment and the surrounding atmosphere. The container is then ready for use in a manner shown in FIG. 3. The side walls of the bottle 10 are squeezed by hand (arrows 19) whereby the orifice 13b discharges a jet 20 of liquid in a desired direction. As the pressure in the chamber 10b rises, the sealing action of the nozzle 13 improves because the diaphragm 12 tends to bend outwardly and urges the conical portion of the nozzle with a greater force against the wall bounding the conical venting hole 11b. This means that the compartment 15 remains sealed from the atmosphere and that the sealing action improves during evacuation of liquid from the chamber 10b.

The diaphragm 12, its nozzle 13, its nipple 12c and the venting tube 14 form an attachment which may be separated from the bottle 10 upon removal of the cap 11 so that all elements of this attachment may be cleaned or inspected as often as desired.

bore of a nipple 1120. This nipple carries the venting tube 14. The bellows 112 exhibits the tendency to normally maintain the nozzle 113 in sealing engagement with the wall surrounding the conical venting hole 111b in the end wall 111a of a cap 111. The manner of filling or using the container which embodies the diaphragm 112 of FIG. 4 is the same as described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. The compartment 115 communicates with the discharge end of the venting tube 14.

It is further possible to replace the diaphragm 12 or 112 by a flexible elastic diaphragm 212 of the type shown in FIG. 5. This diaphragm comprises a cylindrical nozzle 213 which is slidable in a cylindrical hole 211b provided in the end wall 211a of a cap 211. The end wall 211a has one or more venting holes 2110 which are normally sealed by the outwardly bulging central portion of the diaphragm 212. The marginal portion 212 of this diaphragm is clamped between the top portion 10a and the cap 211 and carries the nipple 2152c.

It goes without saying that the diaphragm (particularly the diaphragm 12 of FIG. 1) may be made integral with the cap so that the cap and the diaphragm may be attached or detached from the top portion 10a as a unit. Such and many other obvious modifications will readily occur to men skilled in this art without departing from the spirit of my invention and without necessitating separate illustrations.

FIG. 6 shows a diaphragm 312 which is similar to the diaphragm 12 and which carries a cylindrical nozzle 313. This nozzle has an annular collar 3130 which normally seals a cylindrical venting hole 311b in the end wall 311a of the cap 311 from the compartment 315. The'diarneter of the venting hole 311b'is greater than the diameter of the nozzle 313 but less than the diameter of the shoulder defined by the collar 3130 so that the nozzle extends with play through the venting hole. When the nozzle is depressed downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 6, the diaphragm 312 is deformed and the collar 3130 moves away from the inner side of the cap 311 so that the compartment 315 may communicate with the atmosphere. This compartment is in permanent communication with the discharge end of the venting tube 14 which is mounted on the nipple 3120. The diaphragm 312 has a central opening 312a and a smaller opening 312]; which communicates with the bore of the nipple 3120. The configuration of the top portion 10a of the bottle 11 is the same as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 Of courseithe nozzle need not be conical or cylindrioal because a conical nozzle may be replaced by a pyramidal nozzle and a cylindrical nozzle may be replaced by a polygonal nozzle of constant cross section. The configuration of the hole in the end wall of the cap is complementary to the outline of that portion of the nozzle which extends through the cap. It will be noted that the aperture through which the nozzle extends outwardly from the cap may but need not constitute a venting hole. Thus, in FIG. 5, the venting hole 211c is adjacent to the hole 221]; through which the nozzle 213 extends.

Among many other uses, the container of my invention may serve to discharge controlled quantitiesof liquids used for hair permanents, to discharge concentrated liquids into water or to discharge liquid deodorants.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so. fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior ant, fairly constitute essential characteristics of'the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A refillable container for liquids, comprising a receptable defining a chamber and including an openended top portion through which a liquid may be admitted into or evacuated from said chamber; a cap secured to and including an end wall extending across the open end of said top portion, said end wall having a venting hole; and an elastically deformable diaphragm adjacent to the open end of said top portion in the interior of said cap and comprising an outlet extending through said end wall, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the liquid may flow from said chamber into said outlet or vice versa and a second opening, said end wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves a compartment which communicates with said chamber via said second opening and said diaphragm normally sealing said compartment from said venting hole, said diaphragm being deformable in response to depression of said outlet in a direction toward said chamber whereby said compartment is free to communicate with the atmosphere via said venting hole.

2. A refillable container for liquids, comprising an elastically deformable receptacle defining a chamber and including a bottom wall and an open-ended top portion through which a liquid'may be admitted into or evacuated from said chamber; a cap secured to and including an end wall extending across the open end of said top portion, said end wall having a venting hole; an elastically deformable diaphragm adjacent to the open end of said top portion in theinte'nior of said cap and comprising an outlet extending through said end wall, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the liquid may flow from said chamber into said outlet or vice versa and a second opening, said end wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves a compartment which communicates with said chamber via said second opening and said diaphragm normally sealing said compartment from said venting hole, said diaphragm being deformable in response to depression of said outlet in a direction toward said chamber whereby said compartment is free to communicate with the atmosphere'via said venting hole; and a venting tube having a first end portion secured to said diaphragm and a second portion extending in close proximity of said bottom wall, said venting tube communicating with said compartment via said second opening of said diaphragm.

3. A refillable container for liquids, comprising an elastically deformable receptacle defining a chamber and including a bottom wall and an open-ended top portion through which a liquid may be admitted into or evacuated from said chamber; a cap secured to and including an end wall extending across the open end of said top portion, said end wall having a conical venting hole which diverges in a direction toward said chamber; an elastically deformable diaphragm adjacent to the open end of said top portion in the interior of said cap and comprising a nozzle having a conical portion which diverges inwardly and which extends outwardly through said venting hole, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the liquid may fiow from said chamber into said nozzle or vice versa and a second opening, said end wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves a compartment which communicates with said chamber via said second opening and said diaphragm normally maintaining said conical portion of said nozzle in sealing engagement with said end wall so that said venting hole is sealed from said compartment, said diaphragm being deformable in response to depression of said nozzle in a direction toward said chamber whereby said conical portion is moved out of sealing engagement with said end wall and said compartment is free to communicate with the atmosphere via said venting hole; and an elongated venting tube having a first end portion secured to said diaphragm and a second end portion extending in close proximity of said bottom well, said venting tube communicating with said compartment via said second opening.

- 4. A refillable container for liquids,-compnising a receptable defining a chamber and including an open-ended externally threaded tubular top portion through which a liquid may be admitted into or evacuated from said chamber; an internally threaded cap meshing with and including an end wall extending across the open end of said top portion, said end wall having a venting hole; and an elastically deformable diaphragm adjacent to the open end of said top portion in the interior of said cap, said diaphragm having a marginal portion sealingly clamped between said cap and said top portion and comprising an outlet extending through said end wall, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the liquid may flow from said chamber into said outlet or vice versa and a second opening, said end wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves a compartment which communicates with said chamber via said second opening and said diaphragm normally sealing said compertinent-from said venting hole, said diaphragm being deformable in response to depression of said outlet in a direction toward said chamber whereby said compartment is free to communicate with the atmosphere via said venting hole.

5. A refillable containerfor liquids, comprising a receptacle defining a chamber and including an open-ended top portion through which a liquid may be admitted into or evacuated from said chamber; a cap secured to and including an end wall extending across the open end of said top portion, said end wall having a venting hole; and an elastically deformable diaphragm adjacent to the open end of said top portion in the interior of said cap and comprising an outlet integral therewith andextending through said end wall, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the liquid may flow from said chamber into said outlet or vice versa and a second opening, said end wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves an annular compartment which communicates with said chamber via said second opening and said diaphragm normally sealing said compartment from said venting hole, said diaphragm being deformable in response to depression of said outlet in a direction toward said chamber whereby said compartment is free to communicate with the atmosphere via said venting hole.

6. A refillable container for liquids, comprising a receptacle defining a chamber and including an open-ended top portion through which a liquid may be admitted into or evacuated from said chamber; a cap secured to and including an end wall extending across the open end of said top portion, said end wall having a venting hole;

and an elastically deformable diaphragm adjacent to the open end of said top portion in the interior of said cap and comprising an outlet extending through said end wall, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the liquid may flow from said chamber into said outlet or vice versa and a second opening, said end wall and said dia phragm defining between themselves a compartment which communicates with said chamber via said second opening and said diaphragm normally sealing saidjcompartment from said venting hole, said diaphragm being deformable in response to depression of said outlet in a direction toward said chamber whereby said compartment is free to communicate with the atmosphere via said venting hole and a marginal portion of said diaphragm being sealingly received between said end wall and said top portion.

7. A refillable container for liquids, comprising an elastically deformable receptacle defining a chamber and including a bottom wall and an open-ended top portion through which a liquid may be admitted into or evacuated from said chamber; a cap secured to and including an end wall extending across the open end of said top portion, said end wall having a conical venting hole which diverges in a direction toward said chamber; an elastically deformable diaphragm adjacent to the open end of said top portion in the interior of said cap and comprising a conical nozzle which diverges in a direction toward said chamber and which extends outwardly through said venting hole, the conicity of said nozzle being complementary to the conicity of. the surface surrounding said venting hole and said diaphragm having a first opening through which the liquid may flow from said chamber into said nozzle or vice versa and a second opening, said end wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves a compartment which communicates with said chamber via said second opening and said diaphragm normally maintaining said nozzle in sealing engagement with said end wall by biasing said nozzle outwardly so that said venting hole is sealed from said compartment, said diaphragm being deformable in response to depression of said nozzle in a direction toward said chamber whereby said nozzle moves away from the surface surrounding said venting hole and said compartment is free to communicate with the atmosphere via said venting hole; and an elongated ventingtube having a first end portion secured to said diaphragm and a second end portion extending in close proximity of said bottom wall, said Venting tube communicating with said compartment via said second opening.

8. A refillable container for liquids, comprising a receptacle defining a chamber and including an open-ended top portion through which a liquid may be admitted into or evacuatedfrom said chamber; a cap secured to and including an end wall extending across the open end of said top portion, said end wall having a venting hole; an elastically deformable diaphragm adjacent to the open end of said top portion in the interior of said cap and comprising an outlet extending through said end Wall and a tubular nipple extending inwardly into said top portion, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the liquid may flow from said chamber into said outlet or vice versa and a second opening communicating with said nipple, said end wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves a compartment which communicates with said chamber via said second opening and said diaphragm normally sealing said compartment from said venting hole, said diaphragm being deformable in response to depression of said outlet in a direction toward said chamber whereby said compartment is free to communicate with the atmosphere via said venting hole; and

a venting tube extendinginto said chamber and having an upper end portion surrounding said nipple so that said chamber communicates with said compartment via said nipple and said venting tube.

9. A container as set forth in claim 8, wherein said diaphragm comprises a bellows having an outer end portion connected with said outlet and an inner end portion sealingly received between said top portion and said cap.

10. A container as set forth in claim 8, wherein said outlet is a nozzle of constant cross section, said end wall having an aperture sealingly receiving said nozzle so that the nozzle is movable axially inwardly and outwardly and remains in sealing engagement with said end wall.

11. A container as set forth in claim 8, wherein said venting hole is of constant cross section and wherein said outlet is a nozzle which extends with play through said venting hole, said nozzle having an annular collar located in said compartment and normally biased by said diaphragm into engagement with said end wallto seal said venting hole from said compartment.

12. In a container for liquids, in combination, a bottle having a tubular top portion provided with external threads and having an open end and an annular end face surrounding said openend; a cap provided with internal threads meshing with said external threads and including an end wall extending across said open end, said cap having a centrally located conical venting hole which diverges inwardly toward said top portion; and an elastically deformable diaphragm having a marginal portion sealingly received between said end face and said cap, said diaphragm comprising a conical nozzle diverging inwardly toward said top portion and extending through and outwardly from said venting hole, said diaphragm normally biasing said nozzle into sealing engagement with the surface surrounding said venting hole and said end wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves an annular compartment which surrounds said nozzle and which is sealed from the atmosphere when said nozzle seals said venting hole, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the interior of said top portion may communicate with said nozzle and a second opening through which the interior of said top portion may. communicate with said compartment. 1

13. In a container for liquids, in combination, a bottle having a tubular top portion provided with external threads and having an open end and an annular'end face surrounding said open end; a cap provided with internal threads meshing with said external threads and including an end wall extending across said open end, said cap having a centrally located conical venting hole which diverges inwardly toward said top portion; an elastically deformablediaphragm having a marginal portion sealingly received between'said end face and said cap, said diaphragm'comprising a conical nozzle diverging inwardly toward said top portion and extending through and out:

wardly from said venting hole, said diaphragm normally blasing said nozzle into sealing engagement with the surface surrounding said venting hole and said end Wall and said diaphragm defining between themselves an annular compartment which surrounds said nozzle and which is sealed from the atmosphere when said nozzle seals said venting hole, said diaphragm having a first opening through which the interior of said top portion may communicate with said nozzle and a second opening through which the interior of said top portion may communicate with said compartment; and a tubular nipple integral with said diaphragm and extending into said top portion, said nipple communicating with said second opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/51 Livadas 222478 X 5/ 54' Zepelovitch 222-478 X 

1. A REFILLABLE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS, COMPRISING A RECEPTABLE DEFINING A CHAMBER AND INCLUDING AN OPEN-ENDED TOP PORTION THROUGH WHICH A LIQUID MAY BE ADMITTED INTO OR EVACUATED FROM SAID CHAMBER; A CAP SECURED TO AND INCLUDING AN END WALL EXTENDING ACROSS THE OPE END OF SAID TOP PORTION, SAID END WALL HAVING A VENTING HOLE; AN AN ELASTICALLY DEFORMABLE DIAPHRAGM ADJACENT TO THE OPEN END OF SAID TOP PORTION IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID CAP AND COMPRISING AN OUTLET EXTENDING THROUGH SAID END WALL, SAID DIAPHRAGM HAVING A FIRST OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE LIQUID MAY FLOW FROM SAID CHAMBER INTO SAID OUTLET OR VICE VERSA AND A SECOND OPENING, SAID END WALL AND SAID DIAPHRAGM DEFINING BETWEEN THEMSELVES A COMPARTMENT WHICH COMMUNICATES WITH SAID CHAMBER VIA SAID SECOND OPENING AND SAID DIAPHRAGM NORMALLY SEALING SAID COMPARTMENT FROM SAID VENTING HOLE, SAID DIAPHRAGM BEING DEFORMABLE IN RESPONSE TO DEPRESSION OF SAID OUTLET 